49 Comments:

Heh.....was at the game last night. While technically it was a win, the Queens had a hard time beating a dysfunctional Pack. What a waste of great seats (50 yard line, row 26!). Best of luck to the Vikes though. Since my son-in-law lives in Minneapolis, as well as my kidnapped daughter, we have a mutual respect for opposing teams in our household.

It was a strategic loss by the Pack, look good enough have Rogers throw the game and then take the better matchups in their half of the bracket and meet the Seahawks in the NFC championship game. As for the Vikes, one and done, greatness delayed yet again.

Looking at the playoff format... If the Vikings beat the Seahawks they'll have a date with the Cardinals -- which, if they beat the Seahawks, is a winnable game. If they get to the NFC championship they're either staring down Carolina, or at home against either Washington or Green Bay (who will have offed the other and Carolina). Beating Carolina and Seattle and Arizona on the way to the Superbowl would be most impressive -- especially if they then won over a good team. The AFC is a mess in my opinion.

Sunday's game at 1 pm EST forecast is calling for high of 6 deg F but no snow. Too bad the first Vikings home playoff game outdoors since 1981(?) and as of now there is no snow in the forecast. Old man winter freakin better wake up and dump a foot of snow on Sunday. C'mon it's an outdoor Vikings playoff game, dammit.

Vikes have arguably toughest road to superbowl of anyone. Seahawks are good, even though they got owned by the same Packers we just beat at home (SKOL). And the loss of Ellison probably will be a problem for Teddy. At this point, who knows. If Patterson and AP can just remember to hold on to the damn ball...

@11 Nate: Well now, the Falcons did beat Carolina. If they can do it anyone can. I have to believe, though, that Carolina did not bother packing suitcases for the Atlanta game thinking, perhaps, how can these people beat US?In the playoffs you would hope Carolina could at least be willing to warm up before the game.

Wildly off-topic, but Vox will want to forget this post once the Vikes have ripped the still-beating hearts out of their fans yet again this year. I predict a pick-six to lose to Carolina in the last second similar to the Favre interception a few years ago.

I just listened to a sympathetic report about the wildlife center takeover on NPR of all places. It made the occupiers sound like lovable scamps with perhaps a little unusual set of Mormon orthodoxy, painted a favorable picture of the Hammonds (noting that their sentencing was seen as punitive and excessive), and had local people with supporting quotes.

Now what the hell does one make of that? At least makes me think that the drones won't be dropping hellfires anytime soon. They said the media presence outnumbered the militiamen.

I'll say this - no team in the NFL is hotter than the Seahawks right now entering the playoffs...but I'm betting the Vikes play them much tougher than that blow out a few weeks ago.

For one thing, the best Defenders at every level of the Defense where out of that game.

Linval Joseph, Anthony Barr, Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo were all out of that one. All except Linval should be back for next week...and he might be a go too (until his foot injury, was the best DT in the league and will probably be named All Pro 2015.)

While I am totally a Viking homer, and certainly appreciate the sweet taste of the purple kool aid of the PFT Poet, I'm not optimistic about the Viking's chances here. I'll just say this - this game should be a lot closer than the last one with a healthier Defense with critical starters at LB and in the secondary playing this time.

Well, the Vikes earned it no doubt - the NFC North Champion anyway. I think they have a LONG way to go to be the "Glorious Minnesota Vikings Dynasty." But playing in the NFC North has made the Packers easy pickings in the Playoffs, you take out the Superbowl champ year and McCarthy is 3-6 in the playoffs over 10yrs. Maybe the Vikes will do better. Well you won your shot now let's see what you do with it...